British Empire Medal winner Richelle Walsh did not hesitate to get a royal seal of approval when she met one of the Queen’s sons at a glittering garden party.
Richelle, 43, the popular customer care assistant at Greenfield train station, was invited to Buckingham Palace with her husband Trevor after receiving the BEM in the New Year’s honours list.
The Queen, followed by Prince Philip, met VIPs while Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and his daughters, the Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, mingled with members of the public.
After Prince Andrew had talked to the Team GB Handball Team, shy Richelle broke with tradition.
She said: “I walked up to Prince Andrew and asked if he would shake my hand because it would make my day. He said without hesitation: ‘Yes, of course, if it means that much to you.’
“He had a very firm handshake and I was honoured he accepted my invitation,” she declared. “He asked if I was alright, I said ‘Yes’ then we walked on.”
The royal handshake was the pinnacle of Richelle’s whirlwind visit to London which began with a stylish and surprise afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel arranged by her husband.
Prior to the garden party, she shopped at Harrods and the following day visited St Paul’s Cathedral before returning home – with tickets provided free by her employers Northern Rail.
“Words cannot describe the whole experience,” she added. “It was so overwhelming and I felt very special and proud to be in the presence of the Royal family.”
Veteran fundraiser Margaret Hardy, from Diggle, was the second Saddleworthian named in the New Year’s honours list after raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities.
She made the trip to London with eldest daughter Karen and joined 8,000 others, including Paralympians Ben Proctor and Ellie Simmonds, for the one-in-a-lifetime event.
Margaret said: “It was just surreal. It was a fabulous day and really enjoyable. I tried cucumber and mint sandwiches for the first time and they were so refreshing.
“The Queen stopped just by us. She just seemed to turn and smile and bend her head right at me. It was wonderful.”
Both women received their medals from Warren J Smith, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester for services to the area.
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